NCAA hockey championships link Rick Bennett, Amo 'Betts' Bessone

Only two coaches from Greater Springfield have won NCAA Division I championships in hockey – and they did it 48 years apart.

The first? None other than Amo "Betts" Bessone, a West Springfield sports legend who is enshrined in the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame. His underdog 1966 Michigan State team shocked Clarkson 6-1 in the national final. In that clincher, Bessone coached against Clarkson player Skip Demerski, who came out of his old West Side neighborhood near the Eastern States Coliseum.

The other? That would be Rick Bennett, a former Springfield Classical High School skater who guided Union College of Schenectady, N.Y., to a 7-4 victory over Minnesota in the Frozen Four final Saturday night in Philadelphia.

Bennett's Dutchmen got there by edging Boston College 5-4. The championship was a true giant-killing performance as Union (enrollment 2,241) knocked off two of college hockey's major powers.

"It was an incredible experience, and at the same time a humbling one," Bennett said.
"Leadership is so important in hockey, and it's the reason we won. Every day, we had defensemen Matt Bodie and Shayne Gostisbehere leading us. Against Minnesota, Shayne had a game for the ages. It was a dominant performance by a dominating player."

When informed he is the first local coach since Bessone to win an NCAA hockey crown, Bennett said, "That makes it even more incredible and humbling. Amo Bessone was a special name in hockey."

So special, they dedicated an award in his honor. It has been presented since 1967 to the top high school player in Western Massachusetts.

Bennett, 46, played for coach Jim Carlin on a Western Mass. championship team as a junior.

"I can honestly say I had the same elated feeling when we won Western Mass.," he said.

In November, when Carlin was enshrined in the Springfield Public Schools Sports Hall of Fame, Bennett took time from his duties to be with his old coach.

After a solid four-year career at Providence College, Bennett played 10 years professionally, including time with both the Springfield Indians and Falcons of the American Hockey League.

"I always wish the Falcons the best, and I'm glad to see them doing so well," he said. "I have a lot of friends back home, and they give our team great support."